Lawmakers Refile Legislation to Strengthen Bullying Prevention, Investigations and School Accountability
Texas lawmakers Sen. José Menéndez and Rep. Ron Reynolds have refiled SB 100 and HB 813 to strengthen protections against bullying and harassment in public schools. Backed by IDRA and more than 25 state organizations, the legislation would require schools to provide student supports, establish clear investigation procedures, involve families, collect bullying data and prohibit discriminatory bullying. Students, families and advocates are urging lawmakers to act during the 2027 legislative session.
Key Takeaways
- Texas lawmakers refiled school bullying prevention legislation. SB 100 and HB 813 would strengthen protections against bullying and harassment in Texas schools.
- Bullying remains a serious concern. One in three Texas students report being bullied in the past 30 days, and bullying-related discipline incidents have increased by 29% over five years.
- The bills would strengthen school accountability. Proposed requirements include clear investigation procedures, supportive measures for students, family participation and improved data reporting.
- The legislation would explicitly prohibit discriminatory bullying. It would also affirm educators’ responsibilities to report and respond to bullying incidents.
- Students, families and advocates are calling for action. IDRA and more than 25 state organizations support stronger protections during the 2027 legislative session.
Resource from the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), a nonprofit advancing education equity.
AUSTIN • November 9, 2026 – This week, Sen. José Menéndez and Rep. Ron Reynolds filed SB 100 and HB 813 to strengthen Texas laws prohibiting and preventing bullying and harassment in Texas schools.
In 2023, a powerful coalition of students, parents, educators and advocacy groups began a coordinated movement to demand that the Legislature act to address bullying and harassment in Texas schools. Today, on the first day of bill filing in Texas, veteran legislators took steps to realize our vision for safe and welcoming schools by re-filing this critical legislation.
“Every child deserves to feel safe, supported and valued at school, but far too many Texas students continue to experience bullying and harassment,” said Sen. Menéndez, author of David’s Law. “We have made important progress in addressing cyberbullying, but our work is far from finished. No family should have to experience the loss of a child before we take action.”
Bullying and Harassment in Texas Schools
Texas students have experienced unprecedented levels of harassment and hate crimes since 2021.
- One in three Texas students have reported being bullied in the last 30 days.
- Bullying-related discipline incidents have increased by 29% over the last five years, from 2,759 in 2021-22 to 3,550 in 2025-26.
- Nationally, one out of four bullied students experience bullying related to their race, national origin, religion, disability or gender.
- In 2024, the FBI reported an all-time high for reported incidents of hate crimes. Schools are now the third most common place where hate crimes occur, and 69% of reported hate crime incidents target Black students.
“No child should have to endure bullying, harassment or discrimination simply for being who they are,” said Rep. Reynolds. “Yet far too many Texas students continue to experience bullying that threatens their safety, well-being and access to education. Our students deserve more than promises of safety. They deserve action.”
IDRA has been working with families across Texas who have experienced bullying and harassment. Their voices and insights helped shape the legislation and will continue to be uplifted in 2027 legislative session.
“This isn’t just about getting justice for me,” said Autumn Roberson, former Texas public school student, whose story made national news in 2022 when her school district failed to protect her from racial harassment. “It’s about getting justice for the millions of other Black and brown children who have experienced bullying and harassment, and making sure future generations don’t have to go through what we went through. I want lawmakers to imagine their own children going through what I experienced. What would they want someone to do? We have to protect not just our own children, but all children.”
Effective bullying prevention and intervention are essential to ensuring school safety and addressing youth mental health. Over 25 state organizations have expressed support for the legislation, including student and parent groups, teacher and administrator organizations, disability rights advocates, mental health experts and civil rights organizations.
“Every child deserves to attend a school where they feel safe, valued, and protected from bullying and harassment,” said IDRA Chief Legal Analyst Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D. “Yet far too often, students who experience harassment are left to navigate these harms without meaningful intervention from the adults responsible for keeping them safe.”
Texas must move beyond reactive and punitive approaches to school safety and ensure that every school has clear responsibilities to prevent harassment, investigate complaints and provide meaningful support to students and families.
How SB 100 and HB 813 Would Strengthen Texas School Bullying Protections
To strengthen Texas anti-bullying laws, the legislation will:
- Require schools to provide supportive measures to ensure student safety and continued access to educational programs and activities after reporting a bullying incident.
- Establish clear guidelines for documenting, investigating and resolving reports of bullying to ensure fairness and transparency for all impacted participants.
- Ensure impacted students and families have a meaningful opportunity to participate in bullying investigation and receive information regarding resolution.
- Require schools to collect and report data relating to bullying and harassment to better understand prevalence and tailor prevention programming.
- Define and prohibit discriminatory bullying in schools.
- Affirm educators’ responsibilities to report and respond to bullying incidents.
IDRA also has research-based resources for schools for interrupting and preventing bullying in schools.
Sen. José Menéndez media contact: Pearl Cruz, Chief of Staff and General Counsel, 512-463-0126 (pearl.cruz@senate.texas.gov)
Rep. Reynolds media contact: Antron Johnson, Chief of Staff, 512-463-0494 (antron.johnson@house.texas.gov)
IDRA media contact: Thomas Marshall III, M.Ed., IDRA policy communications strategist (thomas.marshall@idra.org)
FAQs
What are Texas SB 100 and HB 813?
Texas Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 813 are companion bills filed by Sen. José Menéndez and Rep. Ron Reynolds for the 2027 legislative session to strengthen school bullying prevention, investigations and accountability. The legislation would establish clearer procedures for reporting and investigating bullying, require supportive measures for impacted students, strengthen family participation and prohibit discriminatory bullying.
How would the proposed Texas bullying legislation protect students?
The legislation would require schools to provide supportive measures after a bullying report to help students remain safe and continue participating in educational programs. It also would establish clearer investigation procedures, ensure students and families can participate meaningfully in the process, and require schools to communicate information about the resolution of complaints.
What is discriminatory bullying in schools?
Discriminatory bullying involves bullying or harassment targeting students because of personal characteristics or identities, such as race, national origin, religion, disability or gender. SB 100 and HB 813 would explicitly define and prohibit discriminatory bullying in Texas schools.
How common is bullying in Texas schools?
One in three Texas students has reported experiencing bullying in the previous 30 days. Bullying-related discipline incidents also increased by 29% over five years, from 2,759 in the 2021-22 school year to 3,550 in 2025-26, according to figures cited by IDRA.
What responsibilities would Texas schools have under the proposed legislation?
Schools would be required to document, investigate and resolve bullying complaints using clear procedures; provide supportive measures; involve impacted students and families; collect and report bullying data; and ensure educators fulfill their responsibilities to report and respond to bullying incidents.
Who supports stronger school bullying protections in Texas?
A coalition of more than 25 Texas organizations supports the legislation, including student and parent groups, teacher and school administrator organizations, disability rights advocates, mental health experts and civil rights organizations. IDRA has worked with students and families whose experiences with bullying and harassment helped shape the proposed protections.
Photo taken in 2023 during the last Texas legislative session.
